Designers Shantanu, Nikhil Mehra collaborate on 'Journey of Couture to Cuisine' project

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
May 25, 2018

​Fashion designers Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra, the pair behind the label Shantanu and Nikhil, have launched a collaboration entitled 'Journey of Couture to Cuisine'.

For Journey of Couture to Cuisine, the designers Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra, collaborated with a group of Indian chefs including Manish Mehrotra of Indian Accent, Sahil Nayyar of Pa Pa Ya, Dhruv Oberoi of Olive Bar & Kitchen, Lokesh of Caara, and Bani of Miam Patisserie.

The designers presented a selection of their traditional and fusion wear garments to the chefs who then used the pieces as inspiration from which to create a dish.

The chef Manish Mehrotra created a dish inspired by the design duo’s “Neo Drape Lehenga” where the garment’s pink and gold colour scheme was reflected in the dish’s use of beetroot and other pink hued foods mixed with gold leaf. The ingredients were also chosen to match the celebratory nature of the design. Other chefs did the same with other Shantanu and Nikhil designs.

“We have always worked on nostalgically reinventing Indian history through the art of the cloth and instead, this time, food, flavours, age-old Indian spices, ingredients and plating gave us a new way of depicting modern India,” Shantanu Mehra told Indian Vogue.

“Couture and cuisine play an integral part of the celebratory aspect of our weddings, and this concept is tailor made for today’s millennial brides and grooms. Every ensemble and delicacy narrates ceremonial values to help the couple choose the perfect silhouette and flavours for each occasion.”

Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra launched their label in January 2000 and specialise in traditional and fusion occasion wear.

The brand has three main product lines: Shantanu and Nikhil Haute Couture, Shantanu and Nikhil Drape (ready to wear), and Shantanu and Nikhil Co. (gift items).

The brand has retail outlets in Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.